Charles Leclerc goes fastest Mexico City Grand Prix FP1

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timing boards at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as nine rookies took part in the opening practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix. 

Feature image credit: Scuderia Ferrari

In a session which saw several rookies take part in the opening hour of practice, the final hour finished with Leclerc’s Ferrari on top, ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.

It was a challenging session for more than one reason. Firstly, nine of the 10 teams opted to run an FP1 rookie in Mexico, with Kick Sauber opting to keep both of their full-time drivers in their cars. Secondly, there were technical problems with all of the teams losing GPS data, hindering the team’s ability to keep an eye on those on track. 

The technical problems caught out Red Bull Racing’s FP1 rookie, Arvid Lindblad, who replaced four-time world champion – and championship contender – Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver has been summoned to the stewards for impeding McLaren’s FP1 rookie, Pato O’Ward, who replaced Lando Norris. 

So, who finished where in FP1? 

FP1 times:

1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1m 18.380s
2. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.107s
3. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber +0.380s
4. Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.404s
5. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber +0.536s
6. Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull Racing +0.617s
7. Esteban Ocon, Haas +0.658s
8. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing +0.710s
9. Franco Colapinto, Alpine +0.951s
10. Alexander Albon, Williams +1.004s
11. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls +1.029s
12. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +1.092s
13. Pato O’Ward, McLaren +1.3s
14. Fred Vesti, Mercedes +1.309s
15. Paul Aron, Alpine +1.482s
16. Ryo Hirakawa, Haas +1.693s
17. Ayumu Iwasa, Racing Bulls +1.773s
18. Luke Browning, Williams +1.930s
19. Jak Crawford, Aston Martin +1.991s
20. Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari +2.474s

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Mexico City Grand Prix Preview: Title fight begins to boil in final races
• Mexico City Grand Prix: the latest weather report
• United States Grand Prix: 3 winners & losers in COTA
• Carlos Sainz given five-place grid penalty for Mexico City Grand Prix
• Max Verstappen dominates victory at the United States Grand Prix
• United States Grand Prix will remain on F1 calendar until 2034

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.